Sugar maple tree named `Bailsta`

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Sugar Maple tree (i.e., Acer saccharum) is provided that exhibits beautiful thick leathery glossy deep green leaves. The leaf bases also tend to be more truncate than those typical of Acer saccharum. The leaves possess a waxy upper surface. The tree is a vigorous grower and exhibits superior performance when exposed to summer heat and wind. Accordingly, good resistance to leaf tatter that is common in Sugar Maple trees is exhibited. The branching habit is substantially symmetrical. Attractive fall leaf coloration in shades of yellow, orange and red generally is exhibited. Also, the winter hardiness is good. The new cultivar is well suited for growing in the landscape as an attractive ornamental shade tree.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The original Sugar Maple tree of the new cultivar was selected on Aug.12, 1987 from a seedling block of Acer saccharum trees growing inproduction fields of Bailey Nursery Inc. at Yamhill, Oreg. The selectionwas made on the basis of the distinctive appearance of a single tree ofthe new cultivar as described hereafter that was discovered whilegrowing among standard Acer saccharum trees present in such productionfields. The seeds used to plant the production fields was previouslycollected from Acer saccharum trees at the University of MinnesotaLandscape Arboretum, Chankassen, Minn. Had I not discovered, studied,and preserved the single tree of the new cultivar it would have beenlost to mankind. The tree of the new cultivar initially was designated0-4-87.

It was found that the new Acer saccharum cultivar exhibits the followingcombination of characteristics:

(a) possesses a more vigorous growth habit than is typical for Acersaccharum,

(b) forms glossy leathery deep-lobed deep green leaves having a waxyupper surface and wavy margins which tend to be more truncated than istypical for Acer saccharum,

(c) exhibits superior performance when exposed to summer heat and wind,

(d) possesses an upright mounded substantially symmetrical branchinghabit,

(e) possesses good winter hardiness, and

(f) generally forms attractive fall leaf coloration.

When the new cultivar is compared to the `Green Mountain` cultivar U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,339) of Acer saccharum, the new cultivar is found to bemore vigorous, forms leaves that are more glossy and appear to beprotected by a waxy cuticle, better withstands summer heat and wind, andgenerally forms superior fall leaf coloration.

The new cultivar was first asexually reproduced by budding on seedlingAcer saccharum during July, 1988 at Yamhill, Oreg. The resulting treeswere transplanted in the field in Minnesota during the Spring of 1992.Such trees have performed well and have demonstrated that thedistinctive characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and arefirmly fixed. The tree characteristics following asexual reproductionwere the same as those as the original tree of the new cultivar. Goodwinter hardiness in combination with the other characteristics has beenobserved. The fall coloration of the new cultivar has been consistentlysuperior until the fall of 1997 when the leaves of all Acer saccharumturned poorly or not at all at the growing area due to unusually warmerweather conditions during late September and early October. Accordingly,the fall leaf coloration can be somewhat variable depending upon theenvironmental conditions that are encountered. Commonly the typical fallleaf coloration that is observed varies from Orange Group 28B and 28C toOrange-Red Group 30C and 30D.

The superior vigor of the new cultivar was confirmed during theobservation of a large number of four-year-old trees of the newcultivar, the `Green Mountain` cultivar, and standard Acer saccharumseedlings growing in Minnesota. Such superior vigor is confirmed by thefollowing tree caliper data that was obtained during such observation:

    ______________________________________                                                          `Green Mountain`                                                                          Standard Acer saccharum                         Caliper                                                                                                 Cultivartivar                                                                                Seedlings                            ______________________________________                                        2 inches                                                                             70 percent 30 percent  20 percent                                      13/4 inches                                                                             25 percent                                                                                      44 percent                                                                                44 percent                            11/2 inches                                                                               5 percent                                                                                     26 percent                                                                                30 percent                            11/4 inches                                                                          --         --                                                                                              6 percent                                 ______________________________________                                    

When compared to the `Bonfire` cultivar U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,817), thenew cultivar of the present invention is hardier, forms generallysmaller leaves that are glossier and tend to be thicker and less subjectto leaf tattering, and exhibits more yellow and less red in the fallleaves.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named the `Bailsta`cultivar and is being marketed under the FALL FIESTA trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show, as nearly trueas it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations ofthis character, typical specimens of the plant and plant parts of thenew cultivar. FIG. 3 is provided for comparative purposes. The treesdepicted in the photographs were grown in the test area of the Hagemanfarm at Cottage Grove, Minn.

FIG. 1 illustrates during August 1997 a mature tree of the new cultivarat an age of approximately 10 years. The trunk diameter is approximately5 inches, the height is approximately 20 feet, and the maximum breadthis approximately 15 feet.

FIG. 2 illustrates during August 1997 a typical mature leaf of the newcultivar. The leaf is deeply lobed. The leathery glossy leaf appearanceis visible as is the substantially truncate leaf base.

FIG. 3 illustrates during August 1997 for comparative purposes a typicalmature leaf of the `Green Mountain` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No.1,311). The absence of a glossy leaf appearance, the presence of lobesof a lesser depth, and a less truncate leaf base are apparent whencompared to the leaf of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the tree of FIG. 1 during October 1996. Excellentfall coloration in shades of yellow, orange, and red is apparent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of a test planting of the new variety whilegrown at Cottage Grove, Minn.

Botanical classification: Acer saccharum, cv. `Bailsta`.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Upright, rounded, substantially symmetrical branchinghabit.

Size.--Generally exceeds that of a standard Acer saccharum at a givenage. For instance, a ten year-old tree has been observed to exhibit atrunk diameter of approximately 5 inches, a height of approximately 20feet, and a maximum breadth of approximately 15 feet. It is anticipatedthat a fully mature tree will assume a height of approximately 50 to 75feet and spread of approximately 50 feet.

Bark.--Dark brown (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4). Commonly is nearGrey Group 201D.

Trunk.--Generally straight in configuration.

Foliage:

Shape.--Thick, deeply-lobed with wavy margins and generally with a moretruncate base than is typical for the species (as illustrated in FIG.2).

Color.--During the summer deep green, Green Group 135A to Green Group135B on the upper surface, and Green Group 138B on the under surface.During the fall generally produces a brilliant display of colorationranging from yellow, orange, and red as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Size.--Commonly larger than is typical of the species under the samegrowing conditions and commonly approximately 9 to 13 cm. in length andapproximately 10 to 15 cm. in width.

Leaf surface.--Glossy on upper surface and covered with a thick waxycuticle or epidermal layer.

Reproductive organs and fruit: Typical of those of Sugar Maple.

Development:

Vegetation.--Commonly displays more vigor than is typical for thespecies as illustrated by a larger caliper and overall tree size at agiven age.

Ability to withstand heat and wind.--Possesses an uncommon ability tohold up well under summer heat and wind and thereby shows excellentdurability and resistance to summer wind and drought. Accordingly, theleaves display a good aesthetic appeal throughout the summer in thesubstantial absence of leaf tatter.

Hardiness.--Perfect winter hardiness has been consistently observed todate.

Disease resistance.--No disease problems have been observed to date. Forinstance, no Sugar Maple verticillium wilt has been observed which isconsidered to be the most serious disease that attacks the species. Suchdisease often is present in fully mature trees of the species.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Acer saccharum having thefollowing combination of characteristics:(a) possesses a more vigorousgrowth habit than is typical for Acer saccharum, (b) forms glossyleathery deep-lobed deep green leaves having a waxy upper surface andwavy margins which tend to be more truncated than is typical for Acersaccharum, (c) exhibits superior performance when exposed to summer heatand wind, (d) possesses an upright mounded substantially symmetricalbranching habit, (e) possesses good winter hardiness, and (f) generallyforms attractive fall leaf coloration;substantially as illustrated anddescribed.